Device for opening, dispensing contents of, and encasing cans



Jan. 17, 1939; JAHNKE El AL DEVICE FOR OPENING, DISPENSING CONTENTS OF, AND ENCASING CANS Filed Oct. 22, 19:57

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR OPENING, DISPENSING con- TENTS or, AND ENCASING oANs Albert Jahnke and Thomas F. Ryan, Chicago, 111. Application October 22, 1937, Serial No. 170,396

L; 4. Claims.

The present invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel holder for cans of powdered material which shall automatically open them sufiiciently to permit the discharge of their contents, provide means for receiving the contents through the openings formed in the cans, and constitute an attractive, decorative housing which will stand firmly in upright position.

In. accordance with our invention, we provide a cup-shaped shell adapted to be slipped over an end of a can; the shell having in the end wall thereof discharge openings and containing within the same a fixed tubular member, one end of which is engaged with said wall; and which is cut away on a diagonal plane extending from the free end into the neighborhood of the fixed end; the diagonal plane being so located that the extreme free end of the tubular member is substantially a sharp point which can readily penetrate a can end when the device is pushed down upon the same. The discharge openings in the device register with the interior of the tubular member. Means are provided on the tubular member for almost completely severing a piece of the same diameter as saidmember from the end of the can and bending it down at right angles to the can end, so that the lower inner end of the tubular member is left entirely unobstructed and the contents of the can can enter the same without danger of clogging or being packed in a manner to prevent ready discharge. The cup-shaped member is preferably about as long as the can to which it is to be applied and, cooperating therewith, is a detachable head to form a closure for the open end and also a base on which the holder may stand upright.

The various features of novelty whereby our invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of our invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one of our improved holders and a can containing powdered or granular material to be dispensed; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the 50 gasket being omitted; and Fig. 3 is a section through the holder, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a can of powdered or granular material, as, for example, baking powder or scouring material. I is a cylindrical shell slightly larger in diameter than the can, having fixed to one end a head 2; the members I and 2 constituting a deep cup. 3 is a detachable head for the open end of the shell. This head may be formed of any suitable material, conveniently rubber, and may be in the form of a cap having a relativelyshallow head or wall that fits tightly around the shell when the cap is applied thereto.

In the fixed end wall or head 2 are holes 4 through which powdered or granular material may be shaken, as in the case of any dispenser of the shaker type. Within the body of the holder and registering with the area containing the shaker holes, is a tubular element 5 of considerable diameter abutting at one end against and fixed to the wall or head 2. In the arrangement shown, the member 5 has a number of cars 5 projecting laterally and outwardly fromthe upper end thereof. These ears engage the inner or under surface of the wall 2 and may be welded, soldered or otherwise fastened to the latter. The lower or free edge of the member 5 lies in an inclined plane extending from a point thereon diagonally to a point diametrically opposite and not far from the upper end of said member. Therefore, at its longest point, the member 5 constitutes substantially a knife blade having a pointed end.

When the main or body portion of the holder Cir is slipped down over the can and then has pressure applied to it, the pointed end of the tubular member 5 easily penetrates the can end and, as the downward movement continues, a more or less complete circular cut is made in the can end, so that the contents of the can can enter the member 5 and be discharged through the shaker holes 4.

It is desirable that the flap a be not completely severed but be bent down so as to be out of the way and not obstruct the movement of the contents of the can into the combined cutting and'pouring member 5 when the holder is inverted. We therefore provide the member 5 with a notch E extending upwardly from the inclined lower edge face at the highest point in the latter. Thus, when the tubular cutter is forced down into the can end until the beginning of the notch reaches the plane of the can end, that portion of the can end just below the notch is not cut through but remains as a neck b by which the flap a is held to the can end.

In order that the flap a may be placed in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, we provide the tubular cutter, adjacent to said notch, with a lug or lugs to engage with the top of the flap, adjacent to the neck I), and bend the flap down. In the arrangement shown, the notch in the tubular cutter is formed by slitting the cutter lengthwise and then bending triangular corner pieces 8 inwardly. In this way the notch and the lugs or ears for pressing down on the flap a are produced by the same operation in the manufacture of the tabular cutter and pouring member. Consequently, the member may be a steel tube or be made from a piece of sheet 'steel rolled into tubular form.

There is preferably a gasket 9 surounding the upper end of the tubular member 5 and having a above the top of the can.

It will thus be seen that we have produced a simple, novel, attractive and efficient holder for a can of powdered or granular material, which opens the can and becomes a dispenser of the shaker type through the mere act of introducing the can into the holder. The can itself is wholly concealed by the holder and, therefore, cannot be an inharmonious note in the decorative theme in a kitchen, bathroom or other place where it may be desirable to have a can of powder or granular material conveniently at hand.

While we have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of our invention, we do not'desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

We claim 1. A device for holding packages of powdered or granular materials comprising a deep cupshaped member having one or more discharge openings in the end wall, an open-ended tubular cutting and pouring element within and arranged lengthwise of said member, one of said element being fixed to said end wall so as to surround an area thereof containing said openings, the body of said tubular element being cut away on a plane extending diagonally from a point at the free end thereof to a diametrically opposed point near the other end, and there being on said element, in the vicinity of the last mentioned point, means extending inwardly toward the axis of said element to bend down a section of a can end partially severed from the latter by said element.

2. A device for holding packages of powdered or granular materials comprising a deep cupshaped member having one or more discharge openings in the end wall, an open-ended sheet metal tubular cutting and pouring element with in and arranged lengthwise of said member, one end of said element being fixed to said end wall so as to surround an area thereof containing said openings, the body of said tubular element being cut away on a plane extending diagonally from a point at the free end thereof to a diametrically opposed point near the other end, said element being divided along a longitudinal line for some distance from the last-named point, and triangular portions of said element on opposite sides of said line being bent inwardly to form pressure devices to bend down a section of a can top partially severed from the latter by said element.

3. A device for holding packages of powdered or granular materials comprising a deep cupshaped member having one or more discharge openings in the end wall, an open-ended tubular cutting and pouring element within and arranged lengthwise of said member, one end of said element being fixed to said end wall so as to surround an area thereof containing said openings, the body of said tubular element being cut away on a plane extending diagonally from a point at the free end thereof to a diametrically opposed point near the other end, the wall of said element having therein a triangular notch extending from and having its wide end at the last-mentioned point, and ears projecting into the interior of said element along the sides of said notch.

4. A device for holding packages of powdered or granular materials comprising a deep cup-shaped member having a group of small discharge openings in the end wall, an open-ended tubular cutting and pouring element within and arranged lengthwise of said member, one end of said element having a flange engaged with and fixed to said end wall so as to surround an area thereof containing said openings, the body of said tubular element being cut away on a plane extending diagonally from a point at the free end thereof to a diametrically opposed point near the other end, and a gasket on the inner side of the end wall of said member around said element to form a seal around the joint between said element and a can and into which the latter is forced.

ALBERT J AHNKE. THOMAS F. RYAN. 

